Cellular responses to Cisplatin-induced DNA damage

Molecular mechanisms underlying cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and the potential ameliorative effects of essential oils: A comprehensive review

Since the Middle Ages, essential oils (EO) have been widely used for bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal, insecticidal, medicinal and cosmetic applications, nowadays in pharmaceutical, agricultural and food industries. Recently, EO have emerged as promising adjuvant therapies to mitigate the toxicities induced by anti - cancerous drugs; among them cisplatin induced renal damage amelioration remain remarkable. Cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloroplatinum II, CDDP) is renowned as one of the most effective anti-neoplastic agents, widely used as a broad-spectrum anti-tumor agent for various solid tumors. However, its clinical use is hampered by several side effects, notably nephrotoxicity and acute kidney injury, which arise from the accumulation of CDDP in the proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). To better understand and analyze the molecular mechanisms of CDDP-induced renal damage, it is crucial to investigate potential interventions to protect against cisplatin-mediated nephrotoxicity. These EO have shown the ability to counteract oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, prevent apoptosis, and exert estrogenic effects, all contributing to renal protection. In this review, we have made an effort to summarize the molecular mechanisms and exploring new interventions by which we can pave the way for safer and more effective cancer management in the future.

A nanoformulation of cisplatin with arabinoxylan having enhanced activity against hepatocellular carcinoma through upregulation of apoptotic and necroptotic pathways

Cisplatin is a versatile drug used to treat various types of cancer, but it is associated with high toxicity and resistance problems. Several approaches, including nanotechnology, have been adopted to minimize the toxic effects and to overcome the resistance of cisplatin. Most of the nanoformulations involve the use of synthetic or semisynthetic polymers as drug carriers. In this study arabinoxylan nanoparticles have been investigated as drug reservoirs for intestinal drug delivery. The drug-loaded arabinoxylan nanoparticles (size: ∼1.8 nm, polydispersity index: 0.3 ± 0.04) were prepared and nanoformulation was characterized by various analytical techniques. The nanoformulation was found to be stable (zeta potential: 31.6 ± 1.1 mV). An in vitro cytotoxicity against HepG2 and HEK 293 cell lines was studied. The cell viability analysis showed greater efficacy than the standard cisplatin (IC50: cisplatin 2.4, arabinoxylan nanoformulation 1.3 μg mL-1). The expression profile of carcinogenic markers revealed a six-fold upregulation of MLKL and 0.9-fold down regulation of KRAS, suggesting the activation of the necroptotic pathway by the drug-loaded nanoparticles. The nanoformulation exhibited a sustained release of cisplatin with a cumulative release of ∼40 % (at pH 7.4) and ∼30 % (at pH 5.5) over a period of 12 h with very low initial burst. The study suggests that the use of the new nanoformulation can significantly reduce the required dose of cisplatin without compromising efficacy and more efficient release at basic pH.

DNA damage causes ATM-dependent heterochromatin loss leading to nuclear softening, blebbing, and rupture

The nucleus must maintain stiffness to protect the shape and integrity of the nucleus to ensure proper function. Defects in nuclear stiffness caused from chromatin and lamin perturbations produce abnormal nuclear shapes common in aging, heart disease, and cancer. Loss of nuclear shape via protrusions called blebs leads to nuclear rupture that is well-established to cause nuclear dysfunction, including DNA damage. However, it remains unknown how increased DNA damage affects nuclear stiffness, shape, and ruptures, which could create a negative feedback loop. To determine if increased DNA damage alters nuclear physical properties, we treated MEF cells with DNA damage drugs cisplatin and bleomycin. DNA damage drugs caused increased nuclear blebbing and rupture in interphase nuclei within a few hours and independent of mitosis. Micromanipulation force measurements reveal that DNA damage decreased chromatin-based nuclear mechanics but did not change lamin-based strain stiffening at long extensions relative to wild type. Immunofluorescence measurements of DNA damage treatments reveal the mechanism is an ATM-dependent decrease in heterochromatin leading to nuclear weaken, blebbing, and rupture which can be rescued upon ATM inhibition treatment. Thus, DNA damage drugs cause ATM-dependent heterochromatin loss resulting in nuclear softening, blebbing, and rupture.

Historical Perspective and Current Trends in Anticancer Drug Development

Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of death in the 21st century. The intensive search for new anticancer drugs has been actively pursued by chemists and pharmacologists for decades, focusing either on the isolation of compounds with cytotoxic properties from plants or on screening thousands of synthetic molecules. Compounds that could potentially become candidates for new anticancer drugs must have the ability to inhibit proliferation and/or induce apoptosis in cancer cells without causing too much damage to normal cells. Some anticancer compounds were discovered by accident, others as a result of long-term research. In this review, we have presented a brief history of the development of the most important groups of anticancer drugs, pointing to the fact that they all have many side effects.

Olesoxime protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury by attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). Agents that ameliorate mitochondrial dysfunction hold potential for AKI treatment. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of olesoxime, a novel mitochondrial-targeted agent, on cisplatin-induced AKI.

METHODS

In vivo, a cisplatin-induced AKI mouse model was established by administering a single intraperitoneal dose of cisplatin (25 mg/kg) to male C57BL/6 mice for 72 hours, followed by gavage of either olesoxime or a control solution. In vitro, human proximal tubular HK2 cells were cultured and subjected to treatments with cisplatin, either in the presence or absence of olesoxime.

RESULTS

In vivo, our findings demonstrated that olesoxime administration significantly mitigated the nephrotoxic effects of cisplatin in mice, as evidenced by reduced blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels, improved renal histopathology, and decreased expression of renal tubular injury markers such as kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Furthermore, olesoxime administration markedly reduced cisplatin-induced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the kidneys of AKI mice. Additionally, olesoxime treatment effectively restored mitochondrial function in the kidneys of AKI mice. In vitro, our results indicated that olesoxime treatment protected against cisplatin-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction in cultured HK2 cells. Notably, cisplatin's anticancer effects were unaffected by olesoxime treatment in human cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that olesoxime is a viable and efficient therapeutic agent in the treatment of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury presumably by alleviating mitochondrial dysfunction.

Probing the Effects of Retinoblastoma Binding Protein 6 (RBBP6) Knockdown on the Sensitivity of Cisplatin in Cervical Cancer Cells

Cervical cancer is a major cause of death in women despite the advancement of current treatment modalities. The conventional therapeutic agent, cisplatin (CCDP), is the standard treatment for CC; however, resistance often develops due to the cancer's heterogeneity. Therefore, a detailed elucidation of the specific molecular mechanisms driving CC is crucial for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. Retinoblastoma binding protein 6 (RBBP6) is a potential biomarker associated with cell proliferation and is upregulated in cervical cancer sites, exhibiting apoptosis and dysregulated p53 expression. Furthermore, RBBP6 has been demonstrated to sensitize cancer cells to radiation and certain chemotherapeutic agents by regulating the Bcl-2 gene, thus suggesting a crosstalk among RBBP6/p53/BCL-2 oncogenic signatures. The present study, therefore, investigated the relationship between cisplatin and RBBP6 expression in CC cells. Herein, we first explored bioinformatics simulations and identified that the RBBP6/p53/BCL-2 signaling pathway is overexpressed and correlated with CC. For further analysis, we explored the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) and found that most of the CC cell lines are sensitive to CCDP. To validate these findings, RBBP6 was silenced in HeLa and Vero cells using RNAi technology, followed by measurement of wild-type p53 and Bcl-2 at the mRNA level using qPCR. Cells co-treated with cisplatin and siRBBP6 were subsequently analyzed for apoptosis induction and real-time growth monitoring using flow cytometry and the xCELLigence system, respectively. Cancer cells in the co-treatment group showed a reduction in apoptosis compared to the cisplatin-treated group. Moreover, the real-time growth monitoring revealed a reduced growth rate in RBBP6 knockdown cells treated with cisplatin. Although wild-type p53 remained unchanged in the co-treatment group of cancer cells, Bcl-2 was completely repressed, suggesting that RBBP6 is necessary for sensitizing cervical cancer cells to cisplatin treatment by downregulating Bcl-2. The Vero cell population, which served as a non-cancerous control cell line in this study, remained viable following treatment with both siRBBP6 and cisplatin. Findings from this study suggest that RBBP6 expression promotes cisplatin sensitivity in HeLa cells through Bcl-2 downregulation. Knockdown of RBBP6 limits apoptosis induction and delays cell growth inhibition in response to cisplatin. The knowledge obtained here has the potential to help improve cisplatin efficacy through personalized administration based on the expression profile of RBBP6 among individual patients.

Profiling the compendium of changes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae due to mutations that alter availability of the main methyl donor S-Adenosylmethionine

The SAM1 and SAM2 genes encode for S-Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) synthetase enzymes, with AdoMet serving as the main cellular methyl donor. We have previously shown that independent deletion of these genes alters chromosome stability and AdoMet concentrations in opposite ways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To characterize other changes occurring in these mutants, we grew wildtype, sam1Δ/sam1Δ, and sam2Δ/sam2Δ strains in 15 different Phenotypic Microarray plates with different components and measured growth variations. RNA-Sequencing was also carried out on these strains and differential gene expression determined for each mutant. We explored how the phenotypic growth differences are linked to the altered gene expression, and hypothesize mechanisms by which loss of the SAM genes and subsequent AdoMet level changes, impact pathways and processes. We present 6 stories, discussing changes in sensitivity or resistance to azoles, cisplatin, oxidative stress, arginine biosynthesis perturbations, DNA synthesis inhibitors, and tamoxifen, to demonstrate the power of this novel methodology to broadly profile changes due to gene mutations. The large number of conditions that result in altered growth, as well as the large number of differentially expressed genes with wide-ranging functionality, speaks to the broad array of impacts that altering methyl donor abundance can impart. Our findings demonstrate that some cellular changes are directly related to AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases and AdoMet availability, some are directly linked to the methyl cycle and its role in production of several important cellular components, and others reveal impacts of SAM gene mutations on previously unconnected pathways.

Functional roles and cancer variants of the bifunctional glycosylase NEIL2

Over 70,000 DNA lesions occur in the cell every day, and the inability to properly repair them can lead to mutations and destabilize the genome, resulting in carcinogenesis. The base excision repair (BER) pathway is critical for maintaining genomic integrity by repairing small base lesions, abasic sites and single-stranded breaks. Monofunctional and bifunctional glycosylases initiate the first step of BER by recognizing and excising specific base lesions, followed by DNA end processing, gap filling, and finally nick sealing. The Nei-like 2 (NEIL2) enzyme is a critical bifunctional DNA glycosylase in BER that preferentially excises cytosine oxidation products and abasic sites from single-stranded, double-stranded, and bubble-structured DNA. NEIL2 has been implicated to have important roles in several cellular functions, including genome maintenance, participation in active demethylation, and modulation of the immune response. Several germline and somatic variants of NEIL2 with altered expression and enzymatic activity have been reported in the literature linking them to cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of NEIL2 cellular functions and summarize current findings on NEIL2 variants and their relationship to cancer.

Human NTHL1 expression and subcellular distribution determines cisplatin sensitivity in human lung epithelial and non-small cell lung cancer cells

Base excision repair is critical for maintaining genomic stability and for preventing malignant transformation. NTHL1 is a bifunctional DNA glycosylase/AP lyase that initiates repair of oxidatively damaged pyrimidines. Our recent work established that transient over-expression of NTHL1 leads to acquisition of several hallmarks of cancer in non-tumorigenic immortalized cells likely through interaction with nucleotide excision repair protein XPG. Here, we investigate how NTHL1 expression levels impact cellular sensitivity to cisplatin in non-tumorigenic immortalized cells and five non-small cell lung carcinomas cell lines. The cell line with lowest expression of NTHL1 (H522) shows the highest resistance to cisplatin indicating that decrease in NTHL1 levels may modulate resistance to crosslinking agents in NSCLC tumors. In a complementation study, overexpression of NTHL1 in H522 cell line sensitized it to cisplatin. Using NTHL1 N-terminal deletion mutants defective in nuclear localization we show that cisplatin treatment can alter NTHL1 subcellular localization possibly leading to altered protein-protein interactions and affecting cisplatin sensitivity. Experiments presented in this study reveal a previously unknown link between NTHL1 expression levels and cisplatin sensitivity of NSCLC tumor cells. These findings provide an opportunity to understand how altered NTHL1 expression levels and subcellular distribution can impact cisplatin sensitivity in NSCLC tumor cells.

Intraluminal vesicle trafficking is involved in the secretion of base excision repair protein APE1

The apurinic/apyrimidinic endodeoxyribonuclease 1 (APE1) is an essential enzyme of the base excision repair pathway of non-distorting DNA lesions. In response to genotoxic treatments, APE1 is highly secreted (sAPE1) in association with small-extracellular vesicles (EVs). Interestingly, its presence in the serum of patients with hepatocellular or non-small-cell-lung cancers may represent a prognostic biomarker. The mechanism driving APE1 to associate with EVs is unknown, but is of paramount importance in better understanding the biological roles of sAPE1. Because APE1 lacks an endoplasmic reticulum-targeting signal peptide, it can be secreted through an unconventional protein secretion endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi-independent pathway, which includes an endosome-based secretion of intraluminal vesicles, mediated by multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Using HeLa and A549 cell lines, we investigated the role of endosomal sorting complex required for transport protein pathways (either-dependent or -independent) in the constitutive or trichostatin A-induced secretion of sAPE1, by means of manumycin A and GW 4869 treatments. Through an in-depth biochemical analysis of late-endosomes (LEs) and early-endosomes (EEs), we observed that the distribution of APE1 on density gradient corresponded to that of LE-CD63, LE-Rab7, EE-EEA1 and EE-Rab 5. Interestingly, the secretion of sAPE1, induced by cisplatin genotoxic stress, involved an autophagy-based unconventional secretion requiring MVBs. The present study enlightens the central role played by MVBs in the secretion of sAPE1 under various stimuli, and offers new perspectives in understanding the biological relevance of sAPE1 in cancer cells.

Synthesis, Structure and Anticancer Activity of a Dinuclear Organoplatinum(IV) Complex Stabilized by Adenine

The dinuclear organoplatinum(IV) compound {Pt(CH3)3}2(μ-I)2(μ-adenine) (abbreviated Pt2ad), obtained by treating cubic [Pt(CH3)3(μ3-I)]4 with two equivalents of adenine, was isolated and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The National Cancer Institute Developmental Therapeutics Program's in vitro sulforhodamine B assays showed Pt2ad to be particularly cytotoxic against central nervous system cancer cell line SF-539, and human renal carcinoma cell line RXF-393. Furthermore, Pt2ad displayed some degree of cytotoxicity against non-small cell lung cancer (NCI-H522), colon cancer (HCC-2998, HCT-116, HT29, and SW-620), melanoma (LOX-IMVI, MALME-3M, M14, MDA-MB-435, SK-MEL-28, and UACC-62), ovarian cancer (OVCAR-5), renal carcinoma (A498), breast cancer (BT-549 and MDA-MB-468), and triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231).

Forming a chromium-based interstrand DNA crosslink: Implications for carcinogenicity

The reduction of the carcinogen chromate has been proposed to lead to three Cr(III)-containing DNA lesions: binary adducts (Cr(III) and DNA), interstrand crosslinks, and ternary adducts (Cr(III) linking DNA to a small molecule or protein). Although the structures of binary adducts have recently been elucidated, the structures of interstrand crosslinks and ternary adducts are not known. Analysis of Cr(III) binding to an oligonucleotide duplex containing a 5'-CG site allows elucidation of the structure of an oxide- or hydroxide-bridged binuclear Cr(III) assembly bridging the two strands of DNA. One Cr(III) is directly coordinated by the N-7 atom of a guanine residue, and the complex straddles the helix to form a hydrogen bond between another guanine residue and a Cr(III)-bound aquo ligand. No involvement of the phosphate backbone was observed. The properties and stability of this Cr-O(H)-Cr-bridged complex differ significantly from those reported for Cr-induced interstrand crosslinks, suggesting that interstrand crosslinks resulting from chromate reduction may be organic in nature.

Super-resolution GSDIM microscopy unveils distinct nanoscale characteristics of DNA repair foci under diverse genotoxic stress

DNA double-strand breaks initiate the DNA damage response (DDR), leading to the accumulation of repair proteins at break sites and the formation of the-so-called foci. Various microscopy methods, such as wide-field, confocal, electron, and super-resolution microscopy, have been used to study these structures. However, the impact of different DNA-damaging agents on their (nano)structure remains unclear. Utilising GSDIM super-resolution microscopy, here we investigated the distribution of fluorescently tagged DDR proteins (53BP1, RNF168, MDC1) and γH2AX in U2OS cells treated with γ-irradiation, etoposide, cisplatin, or hydroxyurea. Our results revealed that both foci structure and their nanoscale ultrastructure, including foci size, nanocluster characteristics, fluorophore density and localisation, can be significantly altered by different inducing agents, even ones with similar mechanisms. Furthermore, distinct behaviours of DDR proteins were observed under the same treatment. These findings have implications for cancer treatment strategies involving these agents and provide insights into the nanoscale organisation of the DDR.

Exploring the multifaceted impact of lanthanides on physiological pathways in human breast cancer cells

Lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce), rare earth elements with physical properties similar to calcium (Ca), are generally considered non-toxic when used appropriately. However, their ions possess anti-tumor capabilities. This investigation explores the potential applications and mechanisms of LaCl3 or CeCl3 treatment in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines. TNBC, characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression, is prone to early metastasis and resistant to hormone therapy. Our results demonstrate that La/Ce treatment reduces cell growth, and when combined with cisplatin, it synergistically inhibits cell growth and the PI3K/AKT pathway. La and Ce induce oxidative stress by disrupting mitochondrial function, leading to protein oxidation. Additionally, they interfere with protein homeostasis and induce nucleolar stress. Furthermore, disturbance in F-actin web formation impairs cell migration. This study delves into the mechanism by which calcium-like elements La and Ce inhibit breast cancer cell growth, shedding light on their interference in mitochondrial function, protein homeostasis, and cytoskeleton assembly.

Melatonin and cisplatin co-treatment against cancer: A mechanistic review of their synergistic effects and melatonin's protective actions

Combination chemotherapy appears to be a preferable option for some cancer patients, especially when the medications target multiple pathways of oncogenesis; individuals treated with combination treatments may have a better prognosis than those treated with single agent chemotherapy. However, research has revealed that this is not always the case, and that this technique may just enhance toxicity while having little effect on boosting the anticancer effects of the medications. Cisplatin (CDDP) is a chemotherapeutic medicine that is commonly used to treat many forms of cancer. However, it has major adverse effects such as cardiotoxicity, skin necrosis, testicular toxicity, and nephrotoxicity. Many research have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of melatonin (MLT) as an anticancer medication. MLT operates in a variety of ways, including decreasing cancer cell growth, causing apoptosis, and preventing metastasis. We review the literature on the role of MLT as an adjuvant in CDDP-based chemotherapies and discuss how MLT may enhance CDDP's antitumor effects (e.g., by inducing apoptosis and suppressing metastasis) while protecting other organs from its adverse effects, such as cardio- and nephrotoxicity.

The ATR inhibitor berzosertib acts as a radio- and chemosensitizer in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

Alterations in the DNA damage response play a crucial role in radio- and chemoresistance of neoplastic cells. Activation of the Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) pathway is an important DNA damage response mechanism in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Berzosertib, a selective ATR inhibitor, shows promising radio- and chemosensitizing effects in preclinical studies and is well tolerated in clinical studies. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of berzosertib treatment in combination with radiation and cisplatin in HNSCC. The HNSCC cell lines Cal-27 and FaDu were treated with berzosertib alone and in combination with radiation or cisplatin. Cell viability and clonogenic survival were evaluated. The effect of combination treatment was evaluated with the SynergyFinder or combination index. Apoptosis was assessed via measurement of caspase 3/7 activation and migration was evaluated using a wound healing assay. Berzosertib treatment decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and increased apoptosis. The IC50 of berzosertib treatment after 72 h was 0.25-0.29 µM. Combination with irradiation treatment led to a synergistic increase in radiosensitivity and a synergistic or additive decrease in colony formation. The combination of berzosertib and cisplatin decreased cell viability in a synergistic manner. Additionally, berzosertib inhibited migration at high doses. Berzosertib displays a cytotoxic effect in HNSCC at clinically relevant doses. Further evaluation of combination treatment with irradiation and cisplatin is strongly recommended in HNSCC patients as it may hold the potential to overcome treatment resistance, reduce treatment doses and thus mitigate adverse events.

Huangqi-Danshen decoction protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury in mice

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by cisplatin remains a major impediment to the clinical application of cisplatin, necessitating urgent exploration for promising solutions. Huangqi-Danshen decoction (HDD), a Chinese herbal preparation, has been shown by our group to have a reno-protective effect in adenine-induced chronic kidney disease mice and diabetic db/db mice. However, the effect of HDD on cisplatin-induced AKI and its underlying mechanisms are unknown. Methods: The AKI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (20 mg/kg) in C57BL/6 mice. The mice in the treatment group were administrated with HDD (6.8 g/kg/d) for 5 consecutive days before cisplatin challenge. After 72 h cisplatin injection, blood and kidney tissue were subsequently collected for biochemical detection, histopathological evaluation, Western blot analysis, immunohistochemical staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to detect changes in renal metabolites. Results: The results showed that HDD significantly reduced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels and alleviated renal histopathological injury in cisplatin-induced AKI mice. And HDD treatment demonstrated a significant inhibition in apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in AKI mice. Moreover, non-target metabolomics revealed that HDD significantly restored 165 altered metabolites in AKI mice. Subsequent enrichment analysis and pathway analysis of these metabolites indicated that nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism was the primary pathway affected by HDD intervention. Further investigation showed that HDD could upregulate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) biosynthesis-related enzymes quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase, nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 1, and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase to replenish NAD+ content in the kidney of AKI mice. Conclusion: In summary, HDD exerted a protective effect against cisplatin-induced AKI and suppressed apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the kidney of AKI mice, which may be attributed to the modulation of NAD+ biosynthesis.

Transcriptional signature of early cisplatin drug-tolerant persister cells in lung adenocarcinoma

Resistance to cisplatin is the main cause of treatment failure in lung adenocarcinoma. Drug-tolerant-persister (DTP) cells are responsible for intrinsic resistance, since they survive the initial cycles of treatment, representing a reservoir for the emergence of clones that display acquired resistance. Although the molecular mechanisms of DTP cells have been described, few studies have investigated the earliest molecular alterations of DTP cells in intrinsic resistance to cisplatin. In this work, we report a gene expression signature associated with the emergence of cisplatin-DTP cells in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. After a single exposure to cisplatin, we sequenced the transcriptome of cisplatin-DTPs to identify differentially expressed genes. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that early cisplatin-DTP cells deregulate metabolic and proliferative pathways to survive the drug insult. Interaction network analysis identified three highly connected submodules in which SOCS1 had a significant participation in controlling the proliferation of cisplatin-DTP cells. Expression of the candidate genes and their corresponding protein was validated in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Importantly, the expression level of SOCS1 was different between CDDP-susceptible and CDDP-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Moreover, knockdown of SOCS1 in the CDDP-resistant cell line partially promoted its susceptibility to CDDP. Finally, the clinical relevance of the candidate genes was analyzed in silico, according to the overall survival of cisplatin-treated patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Survival analysis showed that downregulation or upregulation of the selected genes was associated with overall survival. The results obtained indicate that these genes could be employed as predictive biomarkers or potential targets to improve the effectiveness of CDDP treatment in lung cancer patients.

A state-of-art of underlying molecular mechanisms and pharmacological interventions/nanotherapeutics for cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer

The fourth common reason of death among patients is gastric cancer (GC) and it is a dominant tumor type in Ease Asia. One of the problems in GC therapy is chemoresistance. Cisplatin (CP) is a platinum compound that causes DNA damage in reducing tumor progression and viability of cancer cells. However, due to hyperactivation of drug efflux pumps, dysregulation of genes and interactions in tumor microenvironment, tumor cells can develop resistance to CP chemotherapy. The current review focuses on the CP resistance emergence in GC cells with emphasizing on molecular pathways, pharmacological compounds for reversing chemoresistance and the role of nanostructures. Changes in cell death mechanisms such as upregulation of pro-survival autophagy can prevent CP-mediated apoptosis that results in drug resistance. Moreover, increase in metastasis via EMT induction induces CP resistance. Dysregulation of molecular pathways such as PTEN, PI3K/Akt, Nrf2 and others result in changes in CP response of GC cells. Non-coding RNAs determine CP response of GC cells and application of pharmacological compounds with activity distinct of CP can result in sensitivity in tumor cells. Due to efficacy of exosomes in transferring bioactive molecules such as RNA and DNA molecules among GC cells, exosomes can also result in CP resistance. One of the newest progresses in overcoming CP resistance in GC is application of nanoplatforms for delivery of CP in GC therapy that they can increase accumulation of CP at tumor site and by suppressing carcinogenic factors and overcoming biological barriers, they increase CP toxicity on cancer cells.

Polyethylenimine-based iron oxide nanoparticles enhance cisplatin toxicity in ovarian cancer cells in the presence of a static magnetic field

Background

Drug resistance in cancer cells is a major concern in chemotherapy. Cisplatin (CIS) is one of the most effective chemotherapeutics for ovarian cancer. Here, we investigated an experimental approach to increase CIS cytotoxicity and overcome cell resistance using nanoparticle-based combination treatments.

Methods

Polyethylenimine (PEI)-based magnetic iron oxide nanocomplexes were used for drug delivery in genetically matched CIS-resistant (A2780/CP) and -sensitive (A2780) ovarian cancer cells in the presence of a 20 mT static magnetic field. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized and bonded to PEI cationic polymers to form binary complexes (PM). The binding of CIS to the PM binary complexes resulted in the formation of ternary complexes PM/C (PEI-MNP/CIS) and PMC (PEI-MNP-CIS).

Results

CIS cytotoxicity increased at different concentrations of CIS and PEI in all binary and ternary delivery systems over time. Additionally, CIS induced cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M phases and reactive oxygen species production in both cell lines. Ternary complexes were more effective than binary complexes at promoting apoptosis in the treated cells.

Conclusion

PEI-based magnetic nanocomplexes can be considered novel carriers for increasing CIS cytotoxicity and likely overcoming drug resistance of ovarian cancer cells.

Organotin (IV) Dithiocarbamate Compounds as Anticancer Agents: A Review of Syntheses and Cytotoxicity Studies

Organotin (IV) dithiocarbamate has recently received attention as a therapeutic agent among organotin (IV) compounds. The individual properties of the organotin (IV) and dithiocarbamate moieties in the hybrid complex form a synergy of action that stimulates increased biological activity. Organotin (IV) components have been shown to play a crucial role in cytotoxicity. The biological effects of organotin compounds are believed to be influenced by the number of Sn-C bonds and the number and nature of alkyl or aryl substituents within the organotin structure. Ligands target and react with molecules while preventing unwanted changes in the biomolecules. Organotin (IV) dithiocarbamate compounds have also been shown to have a broad range of cellular, biochemical, and molecular effects, with their toxicity largely determined by their structure. Continuing the investigation of the cytotoxicity of organotin (IV) dithiocarbamates, this mini-review delves into the appropriate method for synthesis and discusses the elemental and spectroscopic analyses and potential cytotoxic effects of these compounds from articles published since 2010.

Cisplatin in Liver Cancer Therapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver tumor and is often diagnosed at an unresectable advanced stage. Systemic chemotherapy as well as transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) are used to treat advanced HCC. TACE and HAIC have long been the standard of care for patients with unresectable HCC but are limited to the treatment of intrahepatic lesions. Systemic chemotherapy with doxorubicin or chemohormonal therapy with tamoxifen have also been considered, but neither has demonstrated survival benefits. In the treatment of unresectable advanced HCC, cisplatin is administered transhepatic arterially for local treatment. Subsequently, for cisplatin-refractory cases due to drug resistance, a shift to systemic therapy with a different mechanism of action is expected to produce new antitumor effects. Cisplatin is also used for the treatment of liver tumors other than HCC. This review summarizes the action and resistance mechanism of cisplatin and describes the treatment of the major hepatobiliary cancers for which cisplatin is used as an anticancer agent, with a focus on HCC.

Profiling The Compendium Of Changes In Saccharomyces cerevisiae Due To Mutations That Alter Availability Of The Main Methyl Donor S-Adenosylmethionine

The SAM1 and SAM2 genes encode for S-AdenosylMethionine (AdoMet) synthetase enzymes, with AdoMet serving as the main methyl donor. We have previously shown that independent deletion of these genes alters chromosome stability and AdoMet concentrations in opposite ways in S. cerevisiae. To characterize other changes occurring in these mutants, we grew wildtype, sam1∆/sam1∆, and sam2∆/sam2∆ strains in 15 different Phenotypic Microarray plates with different components, equal to 1440 wells, and measured for growth variations. RNA-Sequencing was also carried out on these strains and differential gene expression determined for each mutant. In this study, we explore how the phenotypic growth differences are linked to the altered gene expression, and thereby predict the mechanisms by which loss of the SAM genes and subsequent AdoMet level changes, impact S. cerevisiae pathways and processes. We present six stories, discussing changes in sensitivity or resistance to azoles, cisplatin, oxidative stress, arginine biosynthesis perturbations, DNA synthesis inhibitors, and tamoxifen, to demonstrate the power of this novel methodology to broadly profile changes due to gene mutations. The large number of conditions that result in altered growth, as well as the large number of differentially expressed genes with wide-ranging functionality, speaks to the broad array of impacts that altering methyl donor abundance can impart, even when the conditions tested were not specifically selected as targeting known methyl involving pathways. Our findings demonstrate that some cellular changes are directly related to AdoMet-dependent methyltransferases and AdoMet availability, some are directly linked to the methyl cycle and its role is production of several important cellular components, and others reveal impacts of SAM gene mutations on previously unconnected pathways.

MFAP2 enhances cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells by regulating autophagy

Background

Cisplatin (CDDP) is of importance in cancer treatment and widely used in advanced gastric cancer (GC). However, its clinical usage is limited due to its resistance, and the regulatory mechanism of CDDP resistance in GC has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we first conducted a comprehensive study to investigate the role of MFAP2 through bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases were applied to downloadgene expression data and clinicopathologic data, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were further analyzed. Then, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and survival analysis were conducted. Furthermore, according to the clinicopathological characteristics of TCGA, clinical correlation analysis was conducted, and a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted.

Results

We revealed that FAP, INHBA and MFAP2 were good diagnostic factors of GC. However, the mechanism of MFAP2 in GC remains elusive, especially in the aspect of chemotherapy resistance. We developed the CDDP-resistant cell line, and found that MFAP2 was upregulated in CDDP-resistant cells, and MFAP2-knockdown improved CDDP sensitivity. Finally, we found that MFAP2 enhanced CDDP resistance by inducing autophagy in drug-resistant cell lines.

Conclusions

The above results suggested that MFAP2 could affect the chemotherapy resistance by altering the level of autophagy in GC patients as a potential therapeutic target.

Chemotherapy impairs ovarian function through excessive ROS-induced ferroptosis

Chemotherapy was conventionally applied to kill cancer cells, but regrettably, they also induce damage to normal cells with high-proliferative capacity resulting in cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, peripheral nerve toxicity, and ovarian toxicity. Of these, chemotherapy-induced ovarian damages mainly include but are not limited to decreased ovarian reserve, infertility, and ovarian atrophy. Therefore, exploring the underlying mechanism of chemotherapeutic drug-induced ovarian damage will pave the way to develop fertility-protective adjuvants for female patients during conventional cancer treatment. Herein, we firstly confirmed the abnormal gonadal hormone levels in patients who received chemotherapy and further found that conventional chemotherapeutic drugs (cyclophosphamide, CTX; paclitaxel, Tax; doxorubicin, Dox and cisplatin, Cis) treatment significantly decreased both the ovarian volume of mice and the number of primordial and antral follicles and accompanied with the ovarian fibrosis and reduced ovarian reserve in animal models. Subsequently, Tax, Dox, and Cis treatment can induce the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), likely resulting from excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production-induced oxidative damage and impaired cellular anti-oxidative capacity. Thirdly, the following experiments demonstrated that Cis treatment could induce mitochondrial dysfunction through overproducing superoxide in GCs and trigger lipid peroxidation leading to ferroptosis, first reported in chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage. In addition, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment could alleviate the Cis-induced toxicity in GCs by downregulating cellular ROS levels and enhancing the anti-oxidative capacity (promoting the expression of glutathione peroxidase, GPX4; nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1, HO-1). Our study confirmed the chemotherapy-induced chaotic hormonal state and ovarian damage in preclinical and clinical examination and indicated that chemotherapeutic drugs initiated ferroptosis in ovarian cells through excessive ROS-induced lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to ovarian cell death. Consequently, developing fertility protectants from the chemotherapy-induced oxidative stress and ferroptosis perspective will ameliorate ovarian damage and further improve the life quality of cancer patients.

Assessing the effects of aging on the renal endothelial cell landscape using single-cell RNA sequencing

Endothelial cells (ECs) with senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASP) have been identified as a key mechanism of aging that contributes to various age-related kidney diseases. In this study, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to create a transcriptome atlas of murine renal ECs and identify transcriptomic changes that occur during aging. We identified seven different subtypes of renal ECs, with glomerular ECs and angiogenic ECs being the most affected by senescence. We confirmed our scRNA-seq findings by using double immunostaining for an EC marker (CD31) and markers of specialized EC phenotypes. Our analysis of the dynamics of capillary lineage development revealed a chronic state of inflammation and compromised glomerular function as prominent aging features. Additionally, we observed an elevated pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant microenvironment in aged glomerular ECs, which may contribute to age-related glomerulosclerosis and renal fibrosis. Through intercellular communication analysis, we also identified changes in signaling involved in immune regulation that may contribute to a hostile microenvironment for renal homeostasis and function. Overall, our findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of aging in the renal endothelium and may pave the way for the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic interventions against age-related kidney diseases.

The Impact of Drugs on Hydrogen Sulfide Homeostasis in Mammals

Mammalian cells and tissues have the capacity to generate hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S) via catabolic routes involving cysteine metabolism. H₂S acts on cell signaling cascades that are necessary in many biochemical and physiological roles important in the heart, brain, liver, kidney, urogenital tract, and cardiovascular and immune systems of mammals. Diminished levels of this molecule are observed in several pathophysiological conditions including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and immune function. Interestingly, in the last two decades, it has become apparent that some commonly prescribed pharmacological drugs can impact the expression and activities of enzymes responsible for hydrogen sulfide production in cells and tissues. Therefore, the current review provides an overview of the studies that catalogue key drugs and their impact on hydrogen sulfide production in mammals.

Roles of DNA damage in renal tubular epithelial cells injury

The prevalence of renal diseases including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of most renal diseases is still unclear and effective treatments are still lacking. DNA damage and the related DNA damage response (DDR) have been confirmed as common pathogenesis of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced DNA damage is one of the most common types of DNA damage involved in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. In recent years, several developments have been made in the field of DNA damage. Herein, we review the roles and developments of DNA damage and DNA damage response in renal tubular epithelial cell injury in acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. In this review, we conclude that focusing on DNA damage and DNA damage response may provide valuable diagnostic biomarkers and treatment strategies for renal diseases including acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.

Cisplatin-based combination therapy for cancer

Cisplatin, that is, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum is a coordinate compound that is mainly preferred as prior treatment against several solid tumors and malignancies like ovaries, head and neck, testicular, and lung cancers because of its anticancer activity. Cisplatin binds at the N7 position of purine and forms adducts, leading to altered activity of DNA that triggers apoptosis. DNA damage is followed by several signaling pathways like induced oxidative stress, upregulated p53, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) or Akt pathways along with induced apoptosis. Additionally, cisplatin treatment comes with few disadvantages such as toxic effects, that is, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, etc., and drug resistance. Furthermore, to overcome cisplatin resistance and toxicological effects, combination drug therapy has been considered. The aim of the review is to focus on the molecular mechanism of action of cisplatin and combination drug therapy to reduce the side effects in cancer therapy.

PD-1/PD-L1 and DNA Damage Response in Cancer

The application of immunotherapy for cancer treatment is rapidly becoming more widespread. Immunotherapeutic agents are frequently combined with various types of treatments to obtain a more durable antitumor clinical response in patients who have developed resistance to monotherapy. Chemotherapeutic drugs that induce DNA damage and trigger DNA damage response (DDR) frequently induce an increase in the expression of the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) that can be employed by cancer cells to avoid immune surveillance. PD-L1 exposed on cancer cells can in turn be targeted to re-establish the immune-reactive tumor microenvironment, which ultimately increases the tumor's susceptibility to combined therapies. Here we review the recent advances in how the DDR regulates PD-L1 expression and point out the effect of etoposide, irinotecan, and platinum compounds on the anti-tumor immune response.

The Gold(I) Complex with Plant Hormone Kinetin Shows Promising In Vitro Anticancer and PPARγ Properties

Motivated by the clinical success of gold(I) metallotherapeutic Auranofin in the effective treatment of both inflammatory and cancer diseases, we decided to prepare, characterize, and further study the [Au(kin)(PPh₃)] complex (1), where Hkin = kinetin, 6-furfuryladenine, for its in vitro anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. The results revealed that the complex (1) had significant in vitro cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines (A2780, A2780R, PC-3, 22Rv1, and THP-1), with IC₅₀ ≈ 1-5 μM, which was even significantly better than that for the conventional platinum-based drug Cisplatin while comparable with Auranofin. Although its ability to inhibit transcription factor NF-κB activity did not exceed the comparative drug Auranofin, it has been found that it is able to positively influence peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), and as a consequence of this to have the impact of moderating/reducing inflammation. The cellular effects of the complex (1) in A2780 cancer cells were also investigated by cell cycle analysis, induction of apoptosis, intracellular ROS production, activation of caspases 3/7 and disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and shotgun proteomic analysis. Proteomic analysis of R2780 cells treated with complex (1) and starting compounds revealed possible different places of the effect of the studied compounds. Moreover, the time-dependent cellular accumulation of copper was studied by means of the mass spectrometry study with the aim of exploring the possible mechanisms responsible for its biological effects.

Polymorphic renal transporters and cisplatin's toxicity in urinary bladder cancer patients: current perspectives and future directions

Urinary bladder cancer (UBC) holds a potentially profound social burden and affects over 573,278 new cases annually. The disease's primary risk factors include occupational tobacco smoke exposure and inherited genetic susceptibility. Over the past 30 years, a number of treatment modalities have emerged, including cisplatin, a platinum molecule that has demonstrated effectiveness against UBC. Nevertheless, it has severe dose-limiting side effects, such as nephrotoxicity, among others. Since intracellular accumulation of platinum anticancer drugs is necessary for cytotoxicity, decreased uptake or enhanced efflux are the root causes of platinum resistance and response failure. Evidence suggests that genetic variations in any transporter involved in the entry or efflux of platinum drugs alter their kinetics and, to a significant extent, determine patients' responses to them. This review aims to consolidate and describe the major transporters and their polymorphic variants in relation to cisplatin-induced toxicities and resistance in UBC patients. We concluded that the efflux transporters ABCB1, ABCC2, SLC25A21, ATP7A, and the uptake transporter OCT2, as well as the organic anion uptake transporters OAT1 and OAT2, are linked to cisplatin accumulation, toxicity, and resistance in urinary bladder cancer patients. While suppressing the CTR1 gene's expression reduced cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity, inhibiting the expression of the MATE1 and MATE2-K genes has been shown to increase cisplatin's nephrotoxicity and resistance. The roles of ABCC5, ABCA8, ABCC10, ABCB10, ABCG1, ATP7B, ABCG2, and mitochondrial SLC25A10 in platinum-receiving urinary bladder cancer patients should be the subject of further investigation.

ZIM, a Norbornene Derived from 4-Aminoantipyrine, Induces DNA Damage and Cell Death but in Association Reduces the Effect of Commercial Chemotherapeutics

Cancer incidence is increasing, and the drugs are not very selective. These drugs cause adverse effects, and the cells become resistant. Therefore, new drugs are needed. Here, we evaluated the effects of ZIM, a candidate for chemotherapy, and 4-AA alone and in association with commercial chemotherapeutic agents. Subsequently, the results of ZIM and 4-AA were compared. Male Swiss mice were treated with doses of 12, 24, or 48 mg/kg ZIM or 4-AA alone or in association with cisplatin (6 mg/kg), doxorubicin (16 mg/kg), and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg). Biometric parameters, DNA damage (comet and micronuclei), cell death, and splenic phagocytosis were evaluated. DNA docking was also performed to confirm the possible interactions of ZIM and 4-AA with DNA. 4-AA has been shown to have low genotoxic potential, increase the frequency of cell death, and activate phagocytosis. ZIM causes genomic and chromosomal damage in addition to causing cell death and activating phagocytosis. In association with chemotherapeutical agents, both 4-AA and ZIM have a chemopreventive effect and, therefore, reduce the frequency of DNA damage, cell death, and splenic phagocytosis. The association of 4-AA and ZIM with commercial chemotherapeutic agents increased the frequency of lymphocytes compared to chemotherapeutic agents alone. Molecular docking demonstrated that ZIM has more affinity for DNA than 4-AA and its precursors (1 and 2). This was confirmed by the lower interaction energy of the complex (-119.83 kcal/mol). ZIM can break the DNA molecule and, therefore, its chemotherapeutic effect can be related to DNA damage. It is considered that ZIM has chemotherapeutic potential. However, it should not be used in combination with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide as it reduces the effects of these drugs.

Basic and translational research on carbon-ion radiobiology

Carbon-ion beam irradiation (IR) has evident advantages over the conventional photon beams in treating tumors. It releases enormous amount of energy in a well-defined range with insignificant scatter in surrounding tissues based on well-localized energy deposition. Over the past 28 years, more than 14,000 patients with various types of cancer have been treated by carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) with promising results at QST. I have provided an overview of the basic and translational research on carbon-ion radiobiology including mechanisms underlying high linear energy transfer (LET) carbon-ion IR-induced cell death (apoptosis, autophagy, senescence, mitotic catastrophe etc.) and high radiocurability produced by carbon-ion beams in combination with DNA damaging drugs or with molecular-targeted drugs, micro-RNA therapeutics and immunotherapy. Additionally, I have focused on the application of these treatment in human cancer cells, especially cancer stem cells (CSCs). Finally, I have summarized the current studies on the application of basic carbon-ion beam IR according to the cancer types and clinical outcomes.

PRIMA-1 inhibits Y220C p53 amyloid aggregation and synergizes with cisplatin in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although many therapeutic options are available, several factors, including the presence of p53 mutations, impact tumor development and therapeutic resistance. TP53 is the second most frequently mutated gene in HCC, comprising more than 30% of cases. Mutations in p53 result in the formation of amyloid aggregates that promote tumor progression. The use of PRIMA-1, a small molecule capable of restoring p53, is a therapeutic strategy to pharmacologically target the amyloid state mutant p53. In this study, we characterize an HCC mutant p53 model for the study of p53 amyloid aggregation in HCC cell lines, from in silico analysis of p53 mutants to a 3D-cell culture model and demonstrate the unprecedented inhibition of Y220C mutant p53 aggregation by PRIMA-1. In addition, our data show beneficial effects of PRIMA-1 in several "gain of function" properties of mutant-p53 cancer cells, including migration, adhesion, proliferation, and drug resistance. We also demonstrate that the combination of PRIMA-1 and cisplatin is a promising approach for HCC therapy. Taken together, our data support the premise that targeting the amyloid-state of mutant p53 may be an attractive therapeutic approach for HCC, and highlight PRIMA-1 as a new candidate for combination therapy with cisplatin.

Cisplatin nephrotoxicity: new insights and therapeutic implications

Cisplatin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent for various solid tumours, but its use is limited by adverse effects in normal tissues. In particular, cisplatin is nephrotoxic and can cause acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Preclinical studies have provided insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, which involve intracellular stresses including DNA damage, mitochondrial pathology, oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Stress responses, including autophagy, cell-cycle arrest, senescence, apoptosis, programmed necrosis and inflammation have key roles in the pathogenesis of cisplatin nephrotoxicity. In addition, emerging evidence suggests a contribution of epigenetic changes to cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. Further research is needed to determine how these pathways are integrated and to identify the cell type-specific roles of critical molecules involved in regulated necrosis, inflammation and epigenetic modifications in cisplatin nephrotoxicity. A number of potential therapeutic targets for cisplatin nephrotoxicity have been identified. However, the effects of renoprotective strategies on the efficacy of cisplatin chemotherapy needs to be thoroughly evaluated. Further research using tumour-bearing animals, multi-omics and genome-wide association studies will enable a comprehensive understanding of the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms of cisplatin nephrotoxicity and potentially lead to the identification of specific targets to protect the kidney without compromising the chemotherapeutic efficacy of cisplatin.

Cancer Cells Upregulate Tau to Gain Resistance to DNA Damaging Agents

Recent reports suggested a role for microtubules in double-strand-DNA break repair. We herein investigated the role of the microtubule-associated protein Tau in radio- and chemotherapy. Noticeably, a lowered expression of Tau in breast cancer cell lines resulted in a significant decrease in mouse-xenograft breast tumor volume after doxorubicin or X-ray treatments. Furthermore, the knockdown of Tau impaired the classical nonhomologous end-joining pathway and led to an improved cellular response to both bleomycin and X-rays. Investigating the mechanism of Tau's protective effect, we found that one of the main mediators of response to double-stranded breaks in DNA, the tumor suppressor p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1), is sequestered in the cytoplasm as a consequence of Tau downregulation. We demonstrated that Tau allows 53BP1 to translocate to the nucleus in response to DNA damage by chaperoning microtubule protein trafficking. Moreover, Tau knockdown chemo-sensitized cancer cells to drugs forming DNA adducts, such as cisplatin and oxaliplatin, and further suggested a general role of Tau in regulating the nuclear trafficking of DNA repair proteins. Altogether, these results suggest that Tau expression in cancer cells may be of interest as a molecular marker for response to DNA-damaging anti-cancer agents. Clinically targeting Tau could sensitize tumors to DNA-damaging treatments.

Antileukemia Activity and Mechanism of Platinum(II)-Based Metal Complexes

Transition metal complexes have continued to constitute an appealing class of medicinal compounds since the exceptional discovery of cisplatin in the late 1960s. Pt(II)-based complexes are endowed with a broad range of biological properties, which are mainly exerted by targeting DNA. In this study, we report a significant biological investigation into and computation analyses of four Pt(II)-complexes, namely, LDP-1-4, synthesized and characterized according to previously reported procedures. Molecular-modelling studies highlighted that the top two LDP compounds (i.e., LDP-1 and LDP-4) might bind to both matched and mismatched base pair sites of the oligonucleotide 5'-(dCGGAAATTACCG)₂-3', supporting their anticancer potential. These two complexes displayed noteworthy cytotoxicity in vitro (sub-micromolar-micromolar range) against two leukaemia cell lines, i.e., CCRF-CEM and its multi-drug-resistant counterpart CEM/ADR5000, and remarkable anti-angiogenic properties (in the sub-micromolar range) evaluated in an in vivo model, i.e., a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.

Study of Synthesis, Characterization, DFT, and In Vitro Biological Activity of Cu(II), Co(II), and Fe(II) Metal Complexes Based on Heterocyclic Azo Pyrazole Dye Ligand

A new azo dye ligand was synthesized by coupling 5-amino-3-methyl-1-phenylpyrazole with a diazonium ion of 2-amino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid. Its Co(II), Fe(II), and Cu(II) complexes were also synthesized. This ligand and its complexes were characterized based on elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, UV-vis spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis. The data showed that the proposed complexes have an octahedral geometry around the central metal ion. The nonelectrolytic nature of the complexes was confirmed by molar conductance measurement. X-ray powder diffraction indicates that Co(II) and Fe(II) complexes are amorphous in nature, whereas the Cu(II) complex has crystalline and amorphous phases. The bond strength and molecular stability between the interaction of metal ions and the ligand were investigated by density functional theory (DFT). The in vitro antibacterial activity of the ligand and complexes was tested against two Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and a fungus (Candida albicans). The Cu(II) complex exhibited a high antimicrobial effect against all tested microorganisms. The DNA fragmentation percentage and cytotoxic activity against human liver cancer cells (HepG2) were evaluated. All tested compounds showed potential anticancer activity, and the Co(II) complex showed better activity results than the other tested compounds, with IC50 = 19.55 μg/mL.

Deficiency of mindin reduces renal injury after ischemia reperfusion

BACKGROUND

Acute renal injury (AKI) secondary to ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury continues to be a significant perioperative problem and there is no effective treatment. Mindin belongs to the mindin/F-spondin family and involves in inflammation, proliferation, and cell apoptosis. Previous studies have explored the biological functions of mindin in liver and brain ischemic injury, but its role in AKI is unknown.

METHOD

To investigate whether mindin has a pathogenic role, mindin knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were used to establish renal IR model. After 30 min of ischemia and 24 h of reperfusion, renal histology, serum creatinine, and inflammatory response were examined to assess kidney injury. In vitro, proinflammatory factors and inflammatory signaling pathways were measured in mindin overexpression or knockdown and vector cells after hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR).

RESULTS

Following IR, the kidney mindin level was increased in WT mice and deletion of mindin provided significant protection for mice against IR-induced renal injury as manifested by attenuated the elevation of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen along with less severity for histological alterations. Mindin deficiency significantly suppressed inflammatory cell infiltration, TNF-α and MCP-1 production following renal IR injury. Mechanistic studies revealed that mindin deficiency inhibits TLR4/JNK/NF-κB signaling activation. In vitro, the expression levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 were increased in mindin overexpression cells compared with vector cells following HR. Moreover, TLR4/JNK/NF-κB signaling activation was elevated in the mindin overexpression cells in response to HR stimulation while mindin knockdown inhibited the activation of TLR4/JNK/ NF-κB signaling after HR in vitro. Further study showed that mindin protein interacted directly with TLR4 protein. And more, mindin protein was confirmed to be expressed massively in renal tubule tissues of human hydronephrosis patients.

CONCLUSION

These data demonstrate that mindin is a critical modulator of renal IR injury through regulating inflammatory responses. TLR4/JNK/NF-κB signaling most likely mediates the biological function of mindin in this model of renal ischemia.

Cisplatin Resistance: Genetic and Epigenetic Factors Involved

Cisplatin (CDDP) is the drug of choice against different types of cancer. However, tumor cells can acquire resistance to the damage caused by cisplatin, generating genetic and epigenetic changes that lead to the generation of resistance and the activation of intrinsic resistance mechanisms in cancer cells. Among them, we can find mutations, alternative splicing, epigenetic-driven expression changes, and even post-translational modifications of proteins. However, the molecular mechanisms by which CDDP resistance develops are not clear but are believed to be multi-factorial. This article highlights a description of cisplatin, which includes action mechanism, resistance, and epigenetic factors involved in cisplatin resistance.

From AKI to CKD: Maladaptive Repair and the Underlying Mechanisms

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as a pathological condition in which the glomerular filtration rate decreases rapidly over a short period of time, resulting in changes in the physiological function and tissue structure of the kidney. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that there is an inseparable relationship between acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease (CKD). With the progress in research in this area, researchers have found that the recovery of AKI may also result in the occurrence of CKD due to its own maladaptation and other potential mechanisms, which involve endothelial cell injury, inflammatory reactions, progression to fibrosis and other pathways that promote the progress of the disease. Based on these findings, this review summarizes the occurrence and potential mechanisms of maladaptive repair in the progression of AKI to CKD and explores possible treatment strategies in this process so as to provide a reference for the inhibition of the progression of AKI to CKD.

Determining the Potential of DNA Damage Response (DDR) Inhibitors in Cervical Cancer Therapy

Cisplatin-based chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment for advanced cervical cancer (CC) but the response rate is poor (46-72%) and cisplatin is nephrotoxic. Therefore, better treatment of CC is urgently needed. We have directly compared, for the first time, the cytotoxicity of four DDR inhibitors (rucaparib/PARPi, VE-821/ATRi, PF-477736/CHK1i and MK-1775/WEE1i) as single agents, and in combination with cisplatin and radiotherapy (RT) in a panel of CC cells. All inhibitors alone caused concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. Low ATM and DNA-PKcs levels were associated with greater VE-821 cytotoxicity. Cisplatin induced ATR, CHK1 and WEE1 activity in all of the cell lines. Cisplatin only activated PARP in S-phase cells, but RT activated PARP in the entire population. Rucaparib was the most potent radiosensitiser and VE-821 was the most potent chemosensitiser. VE-821, PF-47736 and MK-1775 attenuated cisplatin-induced S-phase arrest but tended to increase G2 phase accumulation. In mice, cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury was associated with oxidative stress and PARP activation and was prevented by rucaparib. Therefore, while all inhibitors investigated may increase the efficacy of CRT, the greatest clinical potential of rucaparib may be in limiting kidney damage, which is dose-limiting.

Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer

Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are some of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies. In general, early-stage NMSCs have favorable outcomes; however, a small subset of patients develop resistant, advanced, or metastatic disease, or aggressive subtypes that are more challenging to treat successfully. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Although ICIs have demonstrated activity against NMSCs, the routine clinical use of these agents may be more challenging due to a number of factors including the lack of predictive biomarkers, the need to consider special patient populations, the management of toxicity, and the assessment of atypical responses. With the goal of improving patient care by providing expert guidance to the oncology community, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG). The expert panel drew on the published literature as well as their own clinical experience to develop recommendations for healthcare professionals on important aspects of immunotherapeutic treatment for NMSCs, including staging, biomarker testing, patient selection, therapy selection, post-treatment response evaluation and surveillance, and patient quality of life (QOL) considerations, among others. The evidence- and consensus-based recommendations in this CPG are intended to provide guidance to cancer care professionals treating patients with NMSCs.

Can Cisplatin Therapy Be Improved? Pathways That Can Be Targeted

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II)) is the oldest known chemotherapeutic agent. Since the identification of its anti-tumour activity, it earned a remarkable place as a treatment of choice for several cancer types. It remains effective against testicular, bladder, lung, head and neck, ovarian, and other cancers. Cisplatin treatment triggers different cellular responses. However, it exerts its cytotoxic effects by generating inter-strand and intra-strand crosslinks in DNA. Tumour cells often develop tolerance mechanisms by effectively repairing cisplatin-induced DNA lesions or tolerate the damage by adopting translesion DNA synthesis. Cisplatin-associated nephrotoxicity is also a huge challenge for effective therapy. Several preclinical and clinical studies attempted to understand the major limitations associated with cisplatin therapy, and so far, there is no definitive solution. As such, a more comprehensive molecular and genetic profiling of patients is needed to identify those individuals that can benefit from platinum therapy. Additionally, the treatment regimen can be improved by combining cisplatin with certain molecular targeted therapies to achieve a balance between tumour toxicity and tolerance mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the importance of various biological processes that contribute to the resistance of cisplatin and its derivatives. We aim to highlight the processes that can be modulated to suppress cisplatin resistance and provide an insight into the role of uptake transporters in enhancing drug efficacy.

DNA Methylation Biomarkers for Prediction of Response to Platinum-Based Chemotherapy: Where Do We Stand?

Simple Summary

Platinum-based agents are one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs for various types of cancer. However, one of the main challenges in the application of platinum drugs is resistance, which is currently being widely investigated. Epigenetic DNA methylation-based biomarkers are promising to aid in the selection of patients, helping to foresee their platinum therapy response in advance. These biomarkers enable minimally invasive patient sample collection, short analysis, and good sensitivity. Hence, improved methodologies for the detection and quantification of DNA methylation biomarkers will facilitate their use in the choice of an optimal treatment strategy.

Abstract

Platinum-based chemotherapy is routinely used for the treatment of several cancers. Despite all the advances made in cancer research regarding this therapy and its mechanisms of action, tumor resistance remains a major concern, limiting its effectiveness. DNA methylation-based biomarkers may assist in the selection of patients that may benefit (or not) from this type of treatment and provide new targets to circumvent platinum chemoresistance, namely, through demethylating agents. We performed a systematic search of studies on biomarkers that might be predictive of platinum-based chemotherapy resistance, including in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical models and clinical studies using patient samples. DNA methylation biomarkers predictive of response to platinum remain mostly unexplored but seem promising in assisting clinicians in the generation of more personalized follow-up and treatment strategies. Improved methodologies for their detection and quantification, including non-invasively in liquid biopsies, are additional attractive features that can bring these biomarkers into clinical practice, fostering precision medicine.

The Rationale for "Laser-Induced Thermal Therapy (LITT) and Intratumoral Cisplatin" Approach for Cancer Treatment

Cisplatin is one of the most widely used anticancer drugs in the treatment of various types of solid human cancers, as well as germ cell tumors, sarcomas, and lymphomas. Strong evidence from research has demonstrated higher efficacy of a combination of cisplatin and derivatives, together with hyperthermia and light, in overcoming drug resistance and improving tumoricidal efficacy. It is well known that the antioncogenic potential of CDDP is markedly enhanced by hyperthermia compared to drug treatment alone. However, more recently, accelerators of high energy particles, such as synchrotrons, have been used to produce powerful and monochromatizable radiation to induce an Auger electron cascade in cis-platinum molecules. This is the concept that makes photoactivation of cis-platinum theoretically possible. Both heat and light increase cisplatin anticancer activity via multiple mechanisms, generating DNA lesions by interacting with purine bases in DNA followed by activation of several signal transduction pathways which finally lead to apoptosis. For the past twenty-seven years, our group has developed infrared photo-thermal activation of cisplatin for cancer treatment from bench to bedside. The future development of photoactivatable prodrugs of platinum-based agents injected intratumorally will increase selectivity, lower toxicity and increase efficacy of this important class of antitumor drugs, particularly when treating tumors accessible to laser-based fiber-optic devices, as in head and neck cancer. In this article, the mechanistic rationale of combined intratumor injections of cisplatin and laser-induced thermal therapy (CDDP-LITT) and the clinical application of such minimally invasive treatment for cancer are reviewed.

Therapeutic Potential of Pretreatment with Exosomes Derived from Stem Cells from the Apical Papilla against Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most serious side effect of treatment with cisplatin in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of exosomes derived from stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) on AKI. The medium from a SCAP culture was collected after 2 d of culture. From this, SCAP-derived exosomes (SCAP-ex), which were round (diameter: 30-150 nm) and expressed the characteristic proteins CD63 and CD81, were collected via differential ultracentrifugation. Rat renal epithelial cells (NRK-52E) were pretreated with SCAP-ex for 30 min and subsequently treated with cisplatin to induce acute injury. The extent of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of SCAP-ex against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. The viability assay showed that the survival of damaged cells increased from 65% to 89%. The levels of reactive oxygen species decreased from 176% to 123%. The glutathione content increased by 78%, whereas the levels of malondialdehyde and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) decreased by 35% and 9%, respectively. These results showed that SCAP-ex can retard oxidative stimulation in damaged kidney cells. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain-reaction gene analysis showed that they can also reduce the expression of nuclear factor-κβ (NF-κβ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and p53 in AKI. Further, they increased the gene expression of antiapoptotic factor B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), whereas they reduced that of proapoptotic factors Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) and caspase-8 (CASP8), CASP9, and CASP3, thereby reducing the risk of cell apoptosis.

SCARA3 inhibits cell proliferation and EMT through AKT signaling pathway in lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Scavenger receptor class A member 3 (SCARA3) is decreased in prostate cancer and myeloma. However, functions of SCARA3 in various cancers remain unclear. In this study, we tried to evaluate the functional study of SCARA3 in lung cancer.

METHODS

The expression level of SCARA3 in the TCGA-database, lung cancer tissue microarray and lung cancer cells and the prognosis of lung cancer patients were measured. Lung cancer tissue microarray was analyzed pathologically using immunohistochemistry, and quantitative analysis of SCARA3 in normal lung cells and lung cancer cells was analyzed using western blot analysis. Survival curves for lung cancer patients were prepared with the Kaplan-Meier method. Migration and invasion of SCARA3 overexpressed lung cancer cells were determined using a Transwell chamber system. Proliferation of lung cancer cells was determined based on cell viability assay using cell culture in vitro and a tumorigenicity model of BALB/C nude mouse in vivo.

RESULTS

The expression of SCARA3 was abnormally reduced in TCGA-database, lung tissue microarray, and various lung cancer cells. However, overexpression of SCARA3 reduced the proliferation of lung cancer. The ability of SCARA3 to inhibit cancer cell proliferation was maintained even in vivo using a mouse xenograft model. In addition, overexpression of SCARA3 reduced migration and invasion ability of lung cancer cells and induced decreases of EMT markers such as β-catenin, vimentin, and MMP9. We aimed to prove the role of SCARA3 in the treatment of Lung cancer, and shown that the expression level of SCARA3 is important in cancer treatment using cisplatin. The enhancement of the effect of cisplatin according to SCARA3 overexpression is via the AKT and JNK pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirmed an abnormal decrease in SCARA3 in lung cancer. Overexpression of SCARA3 potently inhibited tumors in lung cancer and induced apoptosis by increasing sensitivity of lung cancer to cisplatin. These results suggest that SCARA3 is a major biomarker of lung cancer and that the induction of SCARA3 overexpression can indicate an effective treatment.